Instead, it feels more akin to the Pokémon Rumble franchise, a frenetic spinoff that’s less storytelling than brute strength, less charming character than cartoon carnage. Kirby was still Kirby-as were, to tell the truth, many of his opponents-but “The Cake Royale,” its principle single-player story mode, didn’t play like Triple Deluxe or Planet Robobot or his other recent portable favorites. Raised on polished platformers, Battle Royale‘s top-down arena brawler setup simply didn’t gel at first blush. His chief complaint? It just didn’t “feel like a Kirby game.” That’s why it was so surprising when I noticed he’d quickly put down Kirby Battle Royale to return to the eShop re-release of Pokémon Crystal. From clay-clad exploration to mechanized mayhem to throwback collections, my boy has always shown up for his favorite unlikely hero. The Wii’s Return to Dream Land was the first game my son and I ever beat using couch co-op, and he’s been a Kirby fanboy ever since. Kirby, HAL Laboratory’s gluttonous pink protagonist, is a big name in my house. Kirby Battle Royale Is Multiplayer Family Fun The newest entries in the long-lived Kirby and Dragon Quest lines- Kirby Battle Royale and Dragon Quest Builders, respectively-do just that.

And occasionally, there’s a stalwart series that zigs when it should zag, that takes risks and shakes things up. That said, there’s always room for breakout properties, for sleeper hits, bold reimaginings, and next-big-things. Part of the reason that first-person shooters and big-name sports franchises continually dominate video game sales charts is that they understand what they are, not to mention what they do, and they do it well. What some would lambast as a lack of creativity, a lack of chutzpah, others would classify as honest dependability, as glorious consistency. In 2018, Kirby Battle Royale and Dragon Quest Builders made their way into our lives, and they have since dominated our playtime. But in 2018, something different happened. Typically, the holiday glut gives way to the spring doldrums, and my tightknit gamer family unit almost instinctively plans to rely on those sweet, sweet Q4 release to see us through the lean months. Look, I’ll level with you I never actually expect to be playing new video games this early in the year.

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